has also contributed a frigate and two ap @ - @ 3 ##c orion surveillance aircraft and three c @ - @ 130 hercules transport aircraft to international operations in the persian gulf and indian ocean since 2001 , supporting both the operations in afghanistan and those in iraq under operation catalyst . a detachment of four f / a @ - @ 18 hornet fighter @ - @ bombers was based at diego garcia from late @ - @ 2001 to mid @ - @ 2002 , while two boeing 70 ##7 air @ - @ to @ - @ air ref ##uel ##ling aircraft were also based in mana ##s air base in kyrgyzstan to provide support to coalition aircraft operating in afghan airspace but were
has also contributed a frigate and two ap @ - @ 3c orion surveillance aircraft and three c @ - @ 130 hercules transport aircraft to international operations in the persian gulf and indian ocean since 2001, supporting both the operations in afghanistan and those in iraq under operation catalyst. a detachment of four f / a @ - @ 18 hornet fighter @ - @ bombers was based at diego garcia from late @ - @ 2001 to mid @ - @ 2002, while two boeing 707 air @ - @ to @ - @ air refuelling aircraft were also based in manas air base in kyrgyzstan to provide support to coalition aircraft operating in afghan airspace but were